The role of supplier information availability for construction supply chain performance

Abstract

The lack of coordination of the construction supply chain (CSC) creates a chain of problems. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to knowledge about coordination within CSCs and how the lack thereof can impact their supply chain performance. Coordination encompasses several different mechanisms, whereof focus here has been information sharing with the unit of analysis suppliers’ information availability. Four suppliers active within the CSC, delivering to several different projects have been studied. These represent two different delivery patterns, continuous and intermittent deliveries. Based on the analysis of their information availability are two propositions made; (1) due to the loose couplings and the lack of understanding among main contractors of the value of information sharing, suppliers with continuous supply have an information advantage due to their presence on site, (2) suppliers can enhance their information availability, by increasing their service offering to customers.